DISCOMICS IQEMBU

FROM IDEATION TO DISTRIBUTION

The African animation network (AAN) has been growing in the continent in the recent years as it tries to create a sustainable African animation industry. AAN has created a pan African network consisting of animation associations, animation festivals and pop cultural events that try to education and offer opportunity for the industry to grow. Partnership with the Lagos comic con, the ICON comic &games convention and our very own NAICCON has stretched the reach of AAN to every side of the continent.

With the market already set up and the support of international industry partners, AAN and DISCOP brain child DISCOMICS is launching DISCOMICS IQEMBU. This will be a three pronged strategy that will be intended to pass on the knowledge and create adequate and improved infrastructure for the creation and development of African animation industry. The three stages will include:

DISCOMICS FUKAMELA - incubate in isiZulu

DISCOMICS SHESHISA – accelerate in isiZulu

DISCOMICS IQEMBU – cluster/group in isiZulu

The international partners include Toonz media group, Baboon animation and Toon Boom animation.

Toonz media group is an Indian based production company and a leader in animation production credited with producing more than 10,000 minutes of animation per year. AAN will co-develop an animation production curricula including a Toonz animation FUKAMELA. This will also include a specialized animation writing curriculum. This is what the CEO of Toonz Media Group, P. Jayakumar had to say “Toonz Media Group is excited to start this journey with Africa. As the industry on the continent grows, it will become capable of sustaining itself. Education has been a cornerstone in our strategy in India to grow our own industry. Investing into the local talent pool through developing a curriculum is just as important to developing the African animation industry. “

Baboon animation is based in New York, USA. It’s a world leading animation IP development team with a track record of writing, directing and designing Emmy award winning and Oscar nominated writing for over two decades. AAN will also work with them extensively to create specialized curricula and a BABOON ANIMATION FUKAMELA. Mike de Seve, Creative Director of Baboon Animation has this to say of the partnership; “Many regions have built thriving animation industries starting with service work– later growing to be true creative voices in the world market. Over the years we’ve watched it happen in Japan, Korea, India and more recently China. African countries can be next: its talent pool is immense, and its vision unique. Baboon is thrilled and honored to be here at the beginning of this amazing adventure!”

When both the Toonz and Baboon production is to satisfactory standards, in roughly half a year, the TOONZ ANIMATION SHESHISA and the BABOON ANIMAYION SHESHISA will launch. Both Toonz media group and Baboon Animation will supply the service work to sustain the talent pool, pipeline and infrastructure.

Toon boom animation is based in Canada. They are the leading 2D animation software service provider in the world today. Together with AAN, they will co-develop a specialized 2D animation curriculum and a TOON BOOM FUKAMELA. Inclusive of this will be training for the leads/trainers. Once the training is complete, the TOON BOOM SHESHISA will launched, an international accredited TOON BOOM CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. “Toon Boom has, for many years, been looking at opportunities to grow its market share in Africa”, says Francois Lalonde, VP Sales and Marketing, Co-President of Toon Boom Animation Inc.; “We know of the huge creative talent pool on the continent and we’ve been trying to tailor our strategy around the unique requirements of the African animation industry. This partnership with DISCOP, AAN, Toonz Media Group and Baboon Animation is extremely exciting on many levels for Toon Boom as it is directly aligned with our vision in Africa.”

This is great news for the future of the continents animation industry and the partnership will take Africa to the world stage in producing quality animation that will not only showcase our own culture and creativity, but also entertain the continent and the world.